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Saturday, April 8, 2017

This old prison still stands
in West Virginia. It operated for 119 years. During the years it was run it was considered one of
America’s most violent correctional facilities.

"Old Sparky"

Close to 1,000 men that
entered its doors died while incarcerated. Some died by hanging or later by
electric chair. Others were murdered by fellow inmates or took their own lives.

Moundsville was notorious for
violent riots that were caused most often by overcrowding. In the 1950s the
prison was filled beyond capacity—each 5X7 foot cell housed three prisoners.
This was later deemed inhumane.

Moundsville was closed down
in 1995 but tours are offered today. Recent staff and visitors have reported
seeing shadows and hearing strange noises in the old prison.

One of the first sightings
was of one inmate who was brutally murdered by fellow prisoners. The room he
haunts is the reception area of the prison. It was dubbed, “The Sugar Shack” by
the inmates because of the fights, rapes and murders that often occurred
in this room.

The Sugar Shack

The murdered inmate, R. D.
Wall met his fate here. He was cut and stabbed to the point that his body was
found later in many pieces. His ghost is spotted lurking in the dark corners in
the Sugar Shack.

Shadow figure photographed
by Polly Gear

A dark shadow has been seen
and photographed in this area as well. Other restless spirits have also been
seen in other parts of this prison. Some speculate these are the men who were
executed.

To add to this activity is
the fact that the town of Moundsville, West Virginia is named after many Native
American –Adena-- burial mounds located in the area. It is said these spirits have been seen by many.

With all this mysterious
activity would you dare to take one of the night tours offered at Moundsville?

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Many claim that Woodlawn
Cemetery * in Dayton, Ohio is haunted. The most popular story is about the
ghosts of a five year old boy and his dog.

Woodlawn Cemetery

Like many ghost stories about
young children this one is more charming than scary.

In the mid 1800s residents of
Dayton used a series of man-made canals to transport goods and people.

Miami and Erie Canal

The Morehouse family lived in
the back of their shoe-repair shop in downtown Dayton. Behind this shop ran the
Miami and Erie canal. In August of 1860, the Morehouse’s youngest son Johnny was
playing near the canal with his dog. The young boy lost his balance and fell
into the water.

His dog jumped in after him.
He was able to pull his master out of the water but it was too late—Johnny had
drowned.

The Morehouse family buried
Johnny at Woodlawn Cemetery. Within days of his funeral people began to see an
unusual sight. Johnny’s dog was lying on his grave and would not leave.

As the days passed people
worried this dog would starve to death so they began to bring him food. Because
of this dog’s faithful vigil a new headstone was carved for Johnny’s grave. It
has “Johnny Morehouse” inscribed on the front and “Sweet Slumber” inscribed on
one side.

It depicts a large dog enfolding
Johnny tenderly. Today, this gravesite is the most visited in the cemetery.
People leave offerings of coins, stuffed animals, various toys and food—in fond
remembrance of this child and his devoted companion.

Offerings in remembrance.

For three months in 2008 a
rumor was spread that the gravestone was vandalized. These stories were false. The
head on the statue of the dog did disappear –the reason for this was with age
it had fallen off. It was repaired and placed back on the statue.

Over the years, witnesses
have claimed to see the ghosts of Johnny and his dog throughout the cemetery.
They are seen running and playing together.

Many have heard the sounds of
Johnny’s laughter as his dog barks.Most interesting are the reports
that people have seen what appears to be the statue of the dog breathing. Some
have put their hands directly under the dog’s stone nostrils and felt these breaths.

* Woodlawn is the 5th oldest garden
cemetery in the U.S. Orville and Wilbur Wright are buried here as well as Erma
Bombeck.

Friday, July 22, 2016

A mile and a half up in the
High Sierra Mountains in California sits a Lake named after escaped convicts.

Nevada State Penitentiary at Carson City

Convict Lake was named after
a group of six convicts that escaped from the Nevada State Penitentiary in
September of 1871. Twenty-nine men convicted of stagecoach and train robberies
escaped this prison in the Nevada desert and headed west. They crossed the
border into California.

This group of convicts split
up and headed into the High Sierras, which was not a wise decision for the
first snowfalls in late September were already hitting these mountains.

Convict Lake

Six men from this group
headed south toward the lake that is now named after them. They found themselves
without shelter or supplies.

Along the trail they
encountered a local mailman, William Poor. Poor immediately recognized them
from the wanted posters in his office. The convicts seeing the fear in his eyes
killed him in cold blood.

When word about this murder
reached the locals they became enraged and formed a posse. On September 24th
they found the convicts’ hideout near the lake. A bloody gun battle ensued.
Deputy Sheriff Robert Morrison was killed.

When the fight was over three
men were taken into custody, the other three escaped further into the mountains
and died of exposure. Two of the men captured were hanged the third man who had
testified against the other two convicts was returned to prison. He was stabbed
and killed by fellow prisoners for being a snitch.

Ever since, three ghosts have been seen near this lake. Two wear nooses around their necks the third has a knife
sticking out of his back—it is believed he was the one who was the informer.

All three ghosts are seen
covered in snow with icicles hanging from their eyebrows. Witnesses state these
men have “lifeless” eyes.

These three ghosts are seen
near Convict Lake year round but they are seen more often in the fall months.
Locals and fishermen state that the trout in this lake do not bite when these
ghosts are seen.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

This fort is located in
Leavenworth, Kansas near Kansas City’s airport. According to the military
magazine Soldiers Fort Leavenworth is
the Army’s most haunted base.

Fort Leavenworth, 1873

This fort was built in 1827.
It was first used to protect travelers along the Santa Fe Trail. Its military
units were involved in the Mexican-American war and the Indian wars.

The famous Buffalo Soldiers
originated at Fort Leavenworth. But the fort became known for its notorious
military prison—the old Disciplinary Barracks.

Disciplinary Barracks

Parts of this prison were
torn down in 2004 but several buildings still stand including the guard towers.

A fort volunteer involved in
haunted tours, Lessu Wojtkum states that almost every building on the base has
a ghost story connected to it.

During World War ll a prison
riot broke out. Afterwards, 14 men were hanged as punishment. The gallows
didn’t have enough space so an elevator shaft in the prison administration
building was also used.

Since, military police who
patrol this area have heard screaming coming from this shaft when no on is close
by.

Tower 8

An eerie story is told about
one of the old watchtowers. Tower 8 was closed and never used again after a
soldier killed himself with a shotgun there. Several witnesses have seen an
apparition in this tower.

One sighting involves a soldier
going through basic training in the late 1990s. He was assigned the swing shift
in Tower 10. He saw a person moving about in Tower 8. Knowing no one was
supposed to be in there he felt some one was playing a prank.

He called his command and
stated, “Knock it off.” He was told the tower was abandoned and locked.
Thinking his mind was playing tricks he eliminated several possibilities—it
wasn’t a tree limb or a trick of the light—no it was definitely a person.

He called control again. This
time the radio was handed to the commander of the new prison who happened to be
there. The MP told him “I see someone in there. Who’s in Tower 8?” The
commander told him firmly no one was there.

The soldier continued to see
the figure moving about so he thought maybe it was Tower 7 playing the prank but
he received a negative response. At the end of his shift his relief told him
the story about the guard’s suicide.

This soldier told him in stride that what he saw was a ghost.

Leavenworth cemetery

The most famous ghost seen at
Fort Leavenworth is Catherine Sutler. I tell this story here.
Catherine’s ghost is seen at night wandering around with a lantern at the
fort’s cemetery and on the adjacent golf course.

This story over the years has
been embellished so much it has become legendary. Tragically, it is believed
Catherine is still looking for her two lost children.

People are told if they
encounter her ghost that they should tell her that her children are safe and
she can rest.

The Rookery

The Rookery is the oldest
occupied home on the base. Since the early 1900s it has been used as a family
residence.

One ghost seen at this
location is more aggressive. The story goes a lady was at the post while her
husband was out on a cavalry patrol. Indians attacked the fort and this wife
was tortured and killed.

She is known as the Lady in
White since she wears a white dress. She has grey tangled hair. Witnesses who
have encountered her state she screamed and then ran after them.

Carlos Munoz and his family
once lived on one side of the Rookery duplex. One day while driving back from
Fort Scott his wife startled him when she exclaimed, “Oh, my God.”

He looked around expecting to
see something blocking their car. His wife was waving a book she had bought in
his face. “This is who I saw in the basement.”

It was a picture of Major
Ogden. He oversaw the construction of Fort Riley in 1853. While quartermaster
he lived at the Rookery. He died during a cholera outbreak.

Mr. Munoz’s wife had seen his
apparition. She stated he wore a western-style shirt and vest and rough cloth
pants. Munoz and his children later saw this apparition as well.

While living at the Rookery
the Munoz family also heard constant noises. Mr. Munoz was able to debunk some
sounds others remained a mystery. By the time the family moved out he was
convinced the building was haunted.

Before they left he called in
a paranormal team that intended to stay the night. This team left after only 2
hours. They told Munoz that four ghosts were in residence and that Ogden had
told them arrogantly to “get out.”

Thursday, May 19, 2016

This historic home in
Savannah, Georgia was designed by DeWitt Bruyn and built at a cost of $25,000
for the William Kehoe family.

William Kehoe immigrated to
America in 1842 at the age of 10 with his family from Ireland. The Kehoe family
settled in the Old Fort District of Savannah—an area with many Irish families.

William was apprenticed to an
iron foundry and worked his way up to foreman. His hard work paid off, for he
eventually bought the foundry. He became one of Savannah’s leading businessmen.

William Kehoe

After being married for
several years he and his wife, Anne and their 10 children moved into their new Queen
Anne style mansion in 1892. His heirs sold the home in 1930.

After this it was used as a funeral
home for 47 years (1930-1977). Then the New York Jests football star, Joe
Namath owned the home until 1990. It then underwent renovations and opened as a
Bed and Breakfast.

Today it is run by HLC Hotels
and is run as a Boutique inn. It has a 4-star rating.

One constant in the home
during these years has been the ongoing presence of several deceased Kehoe
family members. Four members of the 1st generation of the Kehoe
Family who died in the house have been seen in the home.

Mrs. Anne Kehoe is known as
the Lady in White. Toward the end of
her life she suffered crippling Arthritis and was confined to the second floor.
It is here where her ghost is seen the most.

She is spotted writing at a
desk and she often abruptly awakens guests with her presence. She is seen
sitting on the edge of their beds. At other times she is seen on the 3rd
floor. This is where she would visit her grandchildren.

William Kehoe’s ghost is seen
throughout the home. On one occasion he opened all the locked doors on the
ground floor at the same time.

It is sometimes reported that
the couple had twin sons that died in the house. But actually it was two young
daughters, Anne and Mary who died of Roseola within 3 days of each other. The
girls are mistaken for twins because they were close in age.

Their distinctive features
identify them. They both have blonde hair and blue eyes. They are playful
spirits who are often heard running on the top floors.

Haunted guest room.

They giggle and whisper into
each other’s ears. They are seen standing at the foot of guest beds. One female
guest reported feeling her face stroked. The girls also like to turn doorknobs.

Today it is said rooms 201
and 203 are the most active. Besides the ghosts seen, lights are turned on and
off when these rooms are empty.The doorbell in the home also
chimes when no one is outside.

Monday, April 18, 2016

This old mansion is a museum
that offers tours today. It was originally built in 1870.

Amos Woodruff came to
Memphis, Tennessee in 1845. He was a carriage maker that made his fortune fast.
He then delved into a variety of other enterprises.

All were successful. He ran
two banks, a railroad, and a hotel. He had a hand in construction and the
lumber and cotton industries.

A leading member of Memphis
society he ran for mayor twice. He had a fancy mansion built for his family in
1870. It was in the French Victorian style with Mansard roofs, arched windows
and stately columns on the porch.

A carriage house, courtyard fountain,
elaborate gardens and a sweeping front lawn surrounded his new mansion.

In 1871, his daughter Mollie
married in the home. She became Mollie Fontaine Henning and inherited the
property when her father died. None of her children lived to adulthood. She
lived in the mansion until she died.

Her ghost is one of three that haunt the home to this day.

Another successful family by
the name of Fontaine moved into the mansion. Noland Fontaine was a cotton
baron.

In 1929 the mansion became an
antique shop and then in 1959 an art school moved in. By 1961, the once grand
mansion was in desperate need of repairs.

A local Memphis preservation
society (APTA) came to the rescue. They restored the mansion and opened the
Woodruff Fontaine Museum in 1964.

Mollie Woodruff Henning

Rose Room named after patterned
wallpaper in room.

It was around this time that
Mollie Woodruff Henning’s ghost became more active. She often hangs out in her
old bedroom, known as the Rose Room, on the 2nd floor.

She is known to sit on the
bed leaving dents so people know she was there. Since the Rose Room is roped
off to tours no one is allowed close to this bed.

Visitors have seen the
rocking chair move in this room and the bed covers rustle. It is here where
people note drastic changes in the temperature.

Indent in bed in Rose Room.

Lights go on and off in this
room as well as the rest of the mansion without explanation.

Mollie’s ghost startled a
museum docent one day when she appeared in the Rose Room. She informed this
lady that she preferred the furniture in the room be placed back in its
original arrangement.

Her ghost wanders throughout
the mansion. She likes to follow people that are doing something different or
interesting. One paranormal team investigating the mansion went down into the
basement.

Evidently Mollie followed
them for they captured her voice on one recorder. She told them that she rarely
went into the basement.

Unlike Mollie, who is a
friendly ghost, another entity in the mansion is an angry male. He ripped off
the necklace from a staff member one day and his negative spirit is sensed on
both the 1st and 3rd floors.

A paranormal team caught his
gruff voice during one EVP session. He answered “no” to their questions. His
ghost has not been connected to anyone who once lived in the home.

Yet another male ghost in the
home is believed to be the Fontaine’s son. Another docent who works for the
preservation society saw his ghost one Sunday afternoon when she was the only
one in the mansion.

Elliot Fontaine

As she made her way up to the
3rd floor she spotted a man sitting at the foot of the stairs that
lead to the 4th floor tower room. He was so lifelike she at first
thought he must be a man that found himself locked in the mansion after a
tour.

But when she looked closer
she realized he looked just like a photograph she had seen of the Fontaine son,
Elliot. Frightened she backed down the stairs and closed her eyes. When she
looked once more he was gone.